Laurence and Adam in Cayman Islands

Laurence and Adam met about nine years ago when she was attending college in Holland, and he was studying abroad there as a student at Penn State University. After several years of a long distance relationship—and many different homes together throughout the world—the couple decided to settle down in the sunny, tropical weather of the Cayman Islands. For the past two and a half years, Laurence and Adam have happily made their home by Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, where Laurence uses her Ph.D. in psychology to set up medical research, and Adam works in finance.

When the two finally decided to marry, they thought it fit to have their guests join them in the Cayman Islands to celebrate their special day. Most of their 65 guests flew in to from around the world, many bringing along their own intricacies, like African beaded napkin holders and Dutch dessert treats, to contribute to the unique style of the wedding. As world travelers themselves, Laurence and Adam also picked up several particulars from different countries, including Italy and the United States, that were used in their wedding, making it truly a global affair. —Cari Wolfert

Vendors

WEDDING DRESS

Galina, davidsbridal.com/galina

GROOM'S SUIT

Dolce & Gabbana, dolcegabbana.com

BRIDESMAID DRESSES

Jasmine, jasminebridal.com

GROOMSMEN'S ATTIRE

Gap, gap.com

HAIR

Sean Powers, Avec-Moi, spatogo.ky

MAKEUP

Azra, Azra Beauty Salon, azrabeauty.com

FLOWERS

Every Blooming Thing, 345-945-1701, ebt.com.ky

TABLES & CHAIRS

Massive Equipment Rental, 345-949-7990, massivegroup.com

CATERING

Mise en Place, 345-943-2433, miseenplace.com.ky

CAKE

Treats, 345-945-4264, treatsrestaurant.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Laurence and Adam decided to wed at the private Caymanian style cottage Thatch Hill, located at Rum Point on Grand Cayman Island. Many of their guests, including the bride's mother, stayed at the private residence. Both the ceremony and reception took place on the beach overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Laurence accompanied her friend, who was also getting married, to Miracle Mile in Florida to seek out her wedding dress. She ended up buying the first one she tried on: an ivory, Grecian-style, empire waist Galina dress from David's Bridal that featured crystals embedded on the straps and scattered along the chiffon train.

Adam wore a dark gray, pin-striped suit by Dolce & Gabbana that he picked up in Italy while attending Laurence's sister's wedding. Since his groomsmen were flying in from all over the United States, it was impossible to get everyone together before the big day. Adam had each of them pick up the same pair of simple black slacks and white cotton shirt from the Gap, as everyone had one near their home.

The whole vision for the wedding centered around Laurence's idea to have white chairs with large yellow bows during her ceremony by the sea. It was then that she decided to choose pink bridesmaids dresses so they would stand out, and the rest of the color scheme followed.

Initially Laurence wanted to wear extensions so her hair would be long and wavy for her beach wedding, but she later decided on an updo, to show off the intricate back of her dress. She had her hairdresser use the extensions to create soft curls, and embellished them with white orchids and pink flowers.

Laurence remembered growing sunflowers as a child when she lived in South Africa, and has always thought of them as happy flowers. She incorporated them into several different aspects of her wedding, including her bouquet.

Conk shells were originally chosen to line the ceremony aisle, but Laurence’s mother decided to make a last minute change and used the luminarias left over from the reception decorations to incorporate the pink-and-yellow color scheme into the ceremony.

To reflect the color scheme at the reception, the same pink and yellow luminarias were scattered around the pool to provide a contrast with the pool’s cool blue color. "Everyone told me that you can't combine fuchsia and yellow," says the bride, who picked the two colors because of how they looked against the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. "But I thought you could."

One of Laurence's bridesmaids came from South Africa to attend her wedding and brought along a box full of handmade beaded napkin holders that she bought at a local market. The African beading brought a distinct color to the stark white tables.